On his NBC News show today, Chris Matthews criticized right-wing media figures for using what Matthews called "coded" and "loaded" language when discussing President Obama and the myth that he is not a natural-born citizen.

Matthews suggested that in releasing his original birth certificate this week, Obama "stripped away the pretense that this was about birthplace when it's really about race." To bolster his point, Matthews aimed his criticism at Donald Trump's reference to "basketball" while talking about Obama, Sean Hannity's fixation on Obama's visit to Shiloh Baptist Church, and Rush Limbaugh's demand that Obama release his "grades."

In the wake of President Obama's release of his long-form birth certificate, which further debunks the claims of those who have been saying Obama was not born in Hawaii, some in the conservative media are now trying to pretend they never questioned Obama's citizenship in the first place.

Following the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate, elements of the conservative media have run with the conspiracy theory that Obama delayed releasing the document in order to play "rope-a-dope" with birthers or to distract from other issues. This comes as other right-wing media figures have hyped other conspiracy theories such as the claim that the birth certificate was Photoshopped.

Right-wing media are using the fact that President Obama did not issue an Easter message to again question whether he is really a Christian. Conservative media have long engaged in a dishonest campaign to question and lie about Obama's faith.

In the latest installment of Glenn Beck vs. Mike Huckabee, Beck seemed to think he had dealt Huckabee the ultimate blow. If only. In hitting back at Huckabee today on his radio show for the latter's recent criticism (in fact, a reply to Beck's first strike a few days ago), Beck accused Huckabee of trying to "smear" him by twisting his words. Beck fervently denied Huckabee's claim that Beck has said progressives are "the same as a 'cancer' and a 'Nazi.' "

After playing part of Huckabee's statement from his radio show, Beck replied:

BECK: First of all, Mr. Huckabee, I did not realize that I had called all progressives "Nazis." That is weird. I have said Nazis have used progressive tactics. You should read Bernays, Lippman. If you don't believe me, read Goebbels. He talks about it in his diaries. It's weird. The only time I've ever heard that kind of a smear is on George Soros' website, Media Matters. Interesting how you would go to Media Matters' talking points when you feel like it would benefit you, Mr. Huckabee.

I've never said progressive is the same as Nazi, so let's not try to twist this into me accusing you of killing millions of Jews. Or are you again trying to co-opt a George Soros program? And maybe you can be added to the list of rabbis that are boycotting this show as they twist my words.

In the same monologue, I compared Mike Huckabee's progressivism to John McCain. Now, while I wasn't a huge fan of Mr. McCain, I wound up voting for the guy. So I clearly don't consider progressives, Nazis -- unless you're taking the talking points from MSNBC, where anyone who has my point of view is a Nazi.

I have said the progressive movement is a cancer to this nation -- and it is. But I was talking about the movement, the ideology in general as it relates to a bigger government, not a specific person being an actual disease. Was it really that confusing to you, Mr. Huckabee?

We don't know whether Huckabee used the Media Matters archives to do his research, but if Beck had had the forethought to check our website, he might not have tried to deny he doesn't liken progressives to Nazis. He has, for instance, said that "national socialism ... is what the progressives here in America believe in," just like Mussolini and Hitler. He has also said that the "progressives loved" national socialism and Mussolini, but that they changed their "words" to hide that fact because, "that became unpopular, for obvious reasons. The ovens were at the other end of that."

Despite repeated denials from government officials, Fox claims to have "confirmed" that federal law enforcement officials have been ordered not to arrest undocumented immigrants, supposedly as a way for the government to lessen apprehension numbers at the border. In fact, the weak U.S. economy and the Obama administration's stepped-up enforcement efforts are principal factors in the decline.

The Washington Timesisn't known for carrying open or enlightening views on LGBT issues. Indeed, it could be argued that the Times takes certain delight in painting itself as anti-gay, in reinforcing the homophobic smear that "homosexual orientation is contrary to human nature." From same-sex marriage to DOMA to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Times has consistently hammered this point. But the op-ed it published Tuesday on Perez Hilton lifted the gay-bashing to a disturbing level.

Hilton, the openly gay celebrity blogger who runs top gossip site PerezHilton.com, recently announced that he has written his first children's book. The Boy With Pink Hair is to be published in September by Penguin's Hispanic imprint Celebra. According to its publisher, the book "is a defining story about how believing in yourself and following your aspirations can not only bring out the best in you, but also in those around you."

In a statement about the book posted on his website, Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, says:

I am absolutely elated about this book, which comes from a very dear and genuine place within me. While I can identify in many ways with THE BOY WITH PINK HAIR, he represents so much more. This story is about every kid that's ever had a dream, felt excluded, wanted to belong, and hoped that one day they could do what they loved and make a difference. Today, with this book, that's exactly what I feel I have the opportunity to do. I hope everyone can share in the spirit of a boy that only wants to bring some happiness to the world around him.

But the Times chose to represent Hilton and news of the book deal by insinuating that he is, in essence, a pedophile.

Despite hard evidence showing otherwise, Glenn Beck has continued to claim that a "death panel" -- a myth introduced by Sarah Palin during the debate over health care reform in 2009 -- is "coming." Indeed, Beck twice repeated the false claim on his radio show recently, and he has been pushing the myth incessantly since promoting it almost two years ago by saying: "I believe it to be true."

Right-wing media responded to budget negotiations and the debate over Planned Parenthood funding by making sexist attacks against women and deriding women's health services as, among other things, "non-vital" and "optional."

The New York Times was forced to issue two corrections after relying on Capitol Hill anonymous sourcing for its flawed report on emails from former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Clinton debacle is the latest example of why the media should be careful when relying on leaks from partisan congressional sources -- this is far from the first time journalists who did have been burned.

Several Fox News figures are attempting to shift partial blame onto Samuel DuBose for his own death at the hands of a Cincinnati police officer during a traffic stop, arguing DuBose should have cooperated with the officer's instructions if he wanted to avoid "danger."

Iowa radio host Steve Deace is frequently interviewed as a political analyst by mainstream media outlets like NPR, MSNBC, and The Hill when they need an insider's perspective on the GOP primary and Iowa political landscape. However, these outlets may not all be aware that Deace gained his insider status in conservative circles by broadcasting full-throated endorsements of extreme right-wing positions on his radio show and writing online columns filled with intolerant views that he never reveals during main stream media appearances.